Dr. Busisiwe Maseko

Busisiwe Maseko is a neuroscientist whose work spans comparative neuroanatomy and the neurobiology of autism spectrum disorder. Her research integrates detailed anatomical mapping, immunohistochemistry, and stereological approaches to investigate brain organization across species, alongside translational studies focused on cortical circuitry alterations in autism.

A major theme in her scholarship is the structural and neurochemical organization of the mammalian brain, particularly the amygdaloid complex and infracortical white matter neurons. Through studies in primates, Afrotherians, rodents, elephants, and even extinct species, she has clarified conserved and derived features of neural systems, offering evolutionary context for understanding affect, cognition, and white matter function.

More recent publications center on autism, including analyses of excitatory–inhibitory synaptic balance in the prefrontal cortex and sex-specific behavioral features in valproic acid models. Complemented by evidence synthesis on pharmaceutical care in autism, this body of work highlights strengths in translational neuroscience, cross-species comparison, and clinically relevant neurodevelopmental research.